Hey Sim, I had just reached out by email for a question on Impromptu #3. When playing, each note is written as is, correct? Instead of if an alteration was on the previous note, the alteration holds to the next note?
I've been going through your book lately with First Lessons in Bach. Revisiting Absolution and hopping around a few of your other pieces like January and Compline. Shelter, Coda, and Drift are on the backburner and I think I'll have to really give the time to Hush and Turn (Really have to give Turn a good chunk of listens... something about those 32nd notes!)
Absolution reminds me of the beginning of the jazz standard I Got it Bad (And That Ain't Good). I recently took a jazz course over the last year and for my final I had to arrange that standard. I think I got a lot out of that class.
Are you into any jazz at all?
How do you split your time at piano? What would be the perfect practice session?
Also; What's life like outside of music? What other hobbies might you have? Can I make some pencil marks in your sheet music book? I feel bad doing so.
You should definitely make marks in the book...whatever makes things easier for you! The most-thumbed/ripped/tatty books are always the best ones/the things you use the most. My Real Book is in a right state.
I'm a big sports fan - football (soccer!) and cricket mainly, but I have got into NFL a lot in the last decade or so. Big into cinema, especially independent/arthouse/foreign-language films, travelling/geography and architecture/mid-century design.
Thanks! I always feel bad making pencil marks in these books because I feel they're both instructions and a piece of art.
As far as hobbies go, lately I've been into weightlifting. I really pursued it over the winter and am glad I did so. I come from a running background so it was nice to change up my philosophy on exercise and form a new perspective. I like cooking too, mostly steaks but prepping my food in general. I think it's good to use your hands to make something!
My brother and father are very into Premier League. They have a whole group chat talking about it with my uncles and cousins. Couldn't tell you why I'm just not that into it. Nothing against it really, just never got it. I do get some of the chat updates as I'm kind of a fly on the wall in the chat... Messi plays for Miami now is all I know. I wish I knew something about cricket. In the states Pickleball is taking off. Are these sports similar? I have no idea. NFL I have similar feelings towards with soccer. If my friends are getting together to watch a game over a few beers, I'll go hang but I don't really have a dog in the fight when it comes to it. They love betting on the games.
As far as architecture goes, Brutalism really upsets me. The Department of Motor Vehicles by where I live is brutalist so maybe I'm creating a bad association with it. I've only really dipped my toes into the pool of architecture. I think church architecture is great. As far as modern stuff goes, I work near the Hearst Tower which I do admire for some reason. I think of the question architects must go through of either designing a uniquely shaped building, or building the tallest building in the area? The Central Park Tower is also by my office. I used to enjoy watching it be built on my lunch breaks.
Yeah, Brutalism is a very a polarising area. Personally, I absolutely love it :-) On the Leeds University campus, there's an incredible whole section which is built in this style (by the same architects who designed the massive post-war Barbican estate in London), and it's an ingenious design which fits in and amongst quite a challenging topography. I used to walk through it every day for 3 years, so I guess that might be where my attachment to it began.
I totally appreciate why it turns people off though, it is certainly a challenge to our ideals and perceptions of what makes something beautiful, or whether we that is a fundamental priority in designing buildings and other structures. The aesthetics and philosophical aspects around this topic are ones which I really enjoy thinking about. Generalised topics such as 'form over function' and 'ornament is crime' are fascinating to think about, and then to apply when relating it to music and especially composition
Looking online now, the Roger Stevens building looks a lot better than what I picture in regard to brutalism. If you've ever played the game Control, there's a huge brutalism influence. Perhaps what we associate with brutalism is how we feel about it. Me at the DMV isn't the nicest association and that's totally on me.
'form over function' I'm aware of but 'ornament is crime' I'm not. I feel as though that rule, on an initial understanding, think needs to be broken more.
I'm working through 'January' and brushing up on the measures where you're playing full chords in left hand. I should have followed the fingerings initially listed as it's coming smoother than just 1-3-5 in left hand. The other thing is that I have to focus on my timing. I'd like to be stricter with a metronome, but I like playing a little more freer. I'll try and get a video to you whether it's just a run-through or a polished performance at some point.
Hey Chris, thanks for your comment! Will come back to you direct on email re the Impromptu, but I think you've spotted an error in the music, thanks for flagging!
Greatly touched to be alongside the great master 😱 With both 'Hush' and 'Turn', those 32nd notes don't need to be super strict...yet another way in which notation doesn't always allow for what might always want it to convey.
Interesting reference for 'Absolution'. It's certainly a little more expressive melodically, although you've tempted me to do a reharm! Feel free to have a go, and maybe we can compare notes! The jazz stuff sounds really good. Yes, I do a fair bit of jazz/jazz-influenced stuff...big all-time piano heroes would be Bill Evans and Keith Jarrett, and absolutely love Brad Mehldau. I saw him at Small's in NYC last December when he was sitting in on a last-minute show with drummer Joe Farnsworth. Saw Mehldau for the first time in 2008 as a freshly-graduated 21 year old in Copenhagen, and I think he's such an engaging player. His interpretations of standards are ace, but also his work on Radiohead, Beatles and other pop/rock tunes is brilliant.
For the last couple of years, I've been developing a new side project, which is a piano and drums instrumental duo, bringing together classical and jazz influences, combining composed and improvised forms. We recorded an album earlier this year, and will be launching it soon.
It could just be my ear picking up the wrong thing!
Paired up with Bach and soon to be the Minecraft soundtrack sheet music. Getting back into piano as the seasons change and I've deleted instagram on my phone which helps with reducing distractions. Absolution and I Got it Bad I think are similar in that opening phrase with the big jump in melody, plus I played my version in G which Absolution is in so there's some overlap. The Bach stuff is more for technical work.
I've only been to one jazz club in NYC which baffles me as I feel I should be going to more. My teacher from the jazz course flew to NYC for a gig and I happened to get a ticket for it. Tight little venue but I managed to get the seat 7 inches away from the piano so I got to see his hands dance like spiders. It was a great experience! Bill Evans Alone record and Keith's Melody at Night stay downloaded on my phone. I'm very into the soundtrack from the video game Superliminal. Check out Sentimental Dreamer when you can https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nIr7mFDhY-s I think it's pinnacle and how I'd like to play one day.
I'm excited for that project. My dad is a drummer and it was one of the first instruments I learned. I'm not Neil Peart, but drums helped me form a sense of rhythm in my musical development. As irony would have it, piano was the last instrument I took up seriously. I think if I had to take another instrument seriously, it'd be fingerstyle guitar tuned to DADGAD. I think there's something warm and Earthy about how it sounds.
That's a really nice piece, thanks for sharing. Yeah those small, tight little jazz clubs in NYC are incredible. Small's and the Vanguard especially. Very few instances like that where you can the absolute pinnacle of musicianship within a genre in such a small, intimate envrionment.
Hey Sim, I had just reached out by email for a question on Impromptu #3. When playing, each note is written as is, correct? Instead of if an alteration was on the previous note, the alteration holds to the next note?
I've been going through your book lately with First Lessons in Bach. Revisiting Absolution and hopping around a few of your other pieces like January and Compline. Shelter, Coda, and Drift are on the backburner and I think I'll have to really give the time to Hush and Turn (Really have to give Turn a good chunk of listens... something about those 32nd notes!)
Absolution reminds me of the beginning of the jazz standard I Got it Bad (And That Ain't Good). I recently took a jazz course over the last year and for my final I had to arrange that standard. I think I got a lot out of that class.
Are you into any jazz at all?
How do you split your time at piano? What would be the perfect practice session?
Tips on avoiding distractions when practicing?
Thanks!
Also; What's life like outside of music? What other hobbies might you have? Can I make some pencil marks in your sheet music book? I feel bad doing so.
Thanks!
You should definitely make marks in the book...whatever makes things easier for you! The most-thumbed/ripped/tatty books are always the best ones/the things you use the most. My Real Book is in a right state.
I'm a big sports fan - football (soccer!) and cricket mainly, but I have got into NFL a lot in the last decade or so. Big into cinema, especially independent/arthouse/foreign-language films, travelling/geography and architecture/mid-century design.
How about you?
Thanks! I always feel bad making pencil marks in these books because I feel they're both instructions and a piece of art.
As far as hobbies go, lately I've been into weightlifting. I really pursued it over the winter and am glad I did so. I come from a running background so it was nice to change up my philosophy on exercise and form a new perspective. I like cooking too, mostly steaks but prepping my food in general. I think it's good to use your hands to make something!
My brother and father are very into Premier League. They have a whole group chat talking about it with my uncles and cousins. Couldn't tell you why I'm just not that into it. Nothing against it really, just never got it. I do get some of the chat updates as I'm kind of a fly on the wall in the chat... Messi plays for Miami now is all I know. I wish I knew something about cricket. In the states Pickleball is taking off. Are these sports similar? I have no idea. NFL I have similar feelings towards with soccer. If my friends are getting together to watch a game over a few beers, I'll go hang but I don't really have a dog in the fight when it comes to it. They love betting on the games.
As far as architecture goes, Brutalism really upsets me. The Department of Motor Vehicles by where I live is brutalist so maybe I'm creating a bad association with it. I've only really dipped my toes into the pool of architecture. I think church architecture is great. As far as modern stuff goes, I work near the Hearst Tower which I do admire for some reason. I think of the question architects must go through of either designing a uniquely shaped building, or building the tallest building in the area? The Central Park Tower is also by my office. I used to enjoy watching it be built on my lunch breaks.
Yeah, Brutalism is a very a polarising area. Personally, I absolutely love it :-) On the Leeds University campus, there's an incredible whole section which is built in this style (by the same architects who designed the massive post-war Barbican estate in London), and it's an ingenious design which fits in and amongst quite a challenging topography. I used to walk through it every day for 3 years, so I guess that might be where my attachment to it began.
I totally appreciate why it turns people off though, it is certainly a challenge to our ideals and perceptions of what makes something beautiful, or whether we that is a fundamental priority in designing buildings and other structures. The aesthetics and philosophical aspects around this topic are ones which I really enjoy thinking about. Generalised topics such as 'form over function' and 'ornament is crime' are fascinating to think about, and then to apply when relating it to music and especially composition
Looking online now, the Roger Stevens building looks a lot better than what I picture in regard to brutalism. If you've ever played the game Control, there's a huge brutalism influence. Perhaps what we associate with brutalism is how we feel about it. Me at the DMV isn't the nicest association and that's totally on me.
'form over function' I'm aware of but 'ornament is crime' I'm not. I feel as though that rule, on an initial understanding, think needs to be broken more.
I'm working through 'January' and brushing up on the measures where you're playing full chords in left hand. I should have followed the fingerings initially listed as it's coming smoother than just 1-3-5 in left hand. The other thing is that I have to focus on my timing. I'd like to be stricter with a metronome, but I like playing a little more freer. I'll try and get a video to you whether it's just a run-through or a polished performance at some point.
Hey Chris, thanks for your comment! Will come back to you direct on email re the Impromptu, but I think you've spotted an error in the music, thanks for flagging!
Greatly touched to be alongside the great master 😱 With both 'Hush' and 'Turn', those 32nd notes don't need to be super strict...yet another way in which notation doesn't always allow for what might always want it to convey.
Interesting reference for 'Absolution'. It's certainly a little more expressive melodically, although you've tempted me to do a reharm! Feel free to have a go, and maybe we can compare notes! The jazz stuff sounds really good. Yes, I do a fair bit of jazz/jazz-influenced stuff...big all-time piano heroes would be Bill Evans and Keith Jarrett, and absolutely love Brad Mehldau. I saw him at Small's in NYC last December when he was sitting in on a last-minute show with drummer Joe Farnsworth. Saw Mehldau for the first time in 2008 as a freshly-graduated 21 year old in Copenhagen, and I think he's such an engaging player. His interpretations of standards are ace, but also his work on Radiohead, Beatles and other pop/rock tunes is brilliant.
For the last couple of years, I've been developing a new side project, which is a piano and drums instrumental duo, bringing together classical and jazz influences, combining composed and improvised forms. We recorded an album earlier this year, and will be launching it soon.
It could just be my ear picking up the wrong thing!
Paired up with Bach and soon to be the Minecraft soundtrack sheet music. Getting back into piano as the seasons change and I've deleted instagram on my phone which helps with reducing distractions. Absolution and I Got it Bad I think are similar in that opening phrase with the big jump in melody, plus I played my version in G which Absolution is in so there's some overlap. The Bach stuff is more for technical work.
I've only been to one jazz club in NYC which baffles me as I feel I should be going to more. My teacher from the jazz course flew to NYC for a gig and I happened to get a ticket for it. Tight little venue but I managed to get the seat 7 inches away from the piano so I got to see his hands dance like spiders. It was a great experience! Bill Evans Alone record and Keith's Melody at Night stay downloaded on my phone. I'm very into the soundtrack from the video game Superliminal. Check out Sentimental Dreamer when you can https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nIr7mFDhY-s I think it's pinnacle and how I'd like to play one day.
I'm excited for that project. My dad is a drummer and it was one of the first instruments I learned. I'm not Neil Peart, but drums helped me form a sense of rhythm in my musical development. As irony would have it, piano was the last instrument I took up seriously. I think if I had to take another instrument seriously, it'd be fingerstyle guitar tuned to DADGAD. I think there's something warm and Earthy about how it sounds.
That's a really nice piece, thanks for sharing. Yeah those small, tight little jazz clubs in NYC are incredible. Small's and the Vanguard especially. Very few instances like that where you can the absolute pinnacle of musicianship within a genre in such a small, intimate envrionment.
https://youtu.be/8NeFybb5b-I Here's January, excuse the snoring dog next to me and my nerves at the end!